The Perfect Disciple

Srila Prabhupada told us many things about his relationship with his spiritual master.  One time, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura reprimanded him when it appeared that Srila Prabhupada had diverted his attention from his Guru Maharaja’s lecture.  When they first met, Srila Prabhupada debated with Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati about India’s independence.  Prabhupada told us, “I liked being defeated by my spiritual master.”  He dreamt of his spiritual master, too, mostly the same serious dream, in which Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati told Srila Prabhupada to take sannyāsa.

His spiritual master praised him highly on a number of occasions for his attentive hearing, and for his poetry and prose writings.  He said, “Whatever he writes, publish it.”  When Srila Prabhupada’s godbrothers asked Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati to make Srila Prabhupada the president of the Bombay Temple, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, “It is better that he lives outside your company.  He will do everything himself.  You do not have to recommend him.” 

After their first meeting, Srila Prabhupada had to travel away on business, but he often thought fondly of his spiritual master.  Of course, they had some personal meetings in which important things were conveyed to our Srila Prabhupada, especially his Guru Maharaja’s order, “If you ever get money, print books.”  Then, near the end of his Guru Maharaja’s life, they exchanged letters.  Srila Prabhupada asked, “How may I serve you?”  And his spiritual master replied, “You can explain in English our thoughts and arguments.  This will do much good to yourself as well as to your audience.  I have every hope that you can turn yourself into a very good English preacher if you serve the mission.”

Prabhupada was given a lot of freedom by his spiritual master to develop in his own way.  But the best example we can take from these anecdotes is that Srila Prabhupada molded his whole life to serve his guru’s mission.  Srila Prabhupada gave all he had.  In return, he was empowered by his guru’s blessings and the mercy of Lord Caitanya. 

Prabhupada was given the shakti to convince the fallen Westerners to become devotees and chanters of the holy name.  Although I can take examples from his life with his spiritual master, I can’t, of course, imitate it.  The point is, how to give ourselves to his order, just as he gave himself to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s order.